Housebuilding at former quarry could restart after three years

CONSTRUCTION ON MORE THAN 400 HOMES BUT STOPPED AFTER BUILDER WENT BUST

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

WORK to build hundreds of homes at a long-derelict quarry could restart after three years in limbo.

Fountain Park Ltd has filed plans with Derbyshire Dales District Council to build 203 homes in Cawdor Quarry, off Snitterton Road overlooking Matlock.

This comes more than three years after work at Cawdor to build more than 400 homes came to an abrupt stop when local builder Wildgoose Construction collapsed into administration.

The approval of more than 400 homes in 2018 followed a 20-year effort to start the regeneration of the quarry and an end to nearly 70 years of it being vacant.

Initial approval of the plans had been won by Groveholt Ltd, but now Fountain Park Ltd is taking the helm, with both companies among the 16 run by developer Charles Rifkind, known for his ownership of a segment of land at Lord’s, “the home of cricket”, in London.

A report filed on behalf of the developer states that the new scheme falls within the same space as the previously approved project, but with increased density of homes.

It also says the developer believes that the previous approval is still live but that the council disagrees. A decision will be made by the council in the next few months.